Why is walking in the woods so good for you?

Scientists have advanced a wide range of theories about the specific physical and mental benefits nature can provide, ranging from clean air and lack of noise pollution to the apparent immune-boosting effects of a fine mist of “wood essential oils.” But the most powerful benefits, a new study suggests, may result from the way trees and birds and sunsets gently tug – but never grab – at our attention. Read more: Article in Globe and Mail, May 28, 2012

First Manuscript Written

Writing is a slow process - at least for me. Nevertheless, I have just completed the first draft of the Hiking Trails of Cape Breton manuscript and it has been submitted to the publisher for editing.

Anyone notice the title change? I intended to position the two books as Volume 1 and 2 of a Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia set. However, the publisher has insisted, based on conversations with Amazon and Mountain Equipment Co-op, that separate titles are preferable.

As a result, this first work to be released with be the 2nd edition of Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, and the other title will be changed to Hiking Trails of Mainland Nova Scotia. Each volume with profile separate regions in the province, as their names suggest, and between them there will be a combined total of 100 walking routes spread throughout the province.

Hiking Trails of Cape Breton is being offered for advance sale already on Amazon.com and Chapters.ca, but publication is not expected before June. The publication date for Hiking Trails of Mainland Nova Scotia depends entirely on how quickly I can write it, but will be no earlier than September 2012.

Hike Nova Scotia invites individuals and groups with an interest in hiking, walking and snowshoeing to the first annual Nova Scotia Hiking & Snowshoeing Summit. This one-day event will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in Maitland Bridge.

The Summit is a celebration of Nova Scotia 's hiking culture, which includes sharing best practices, stories and networking opportunities. It will help us grow a hiking, walking and snowshoeing culture in the province. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot.

Check out the Summit flyer for a draft agenda, registration link, directions and more here: http://tiny.cc/pn05f.

Final Progress Report

The fall of 2011 has featured some exceptionally fine hiking weather. True, there were two days in October with more than 100mm of rainfall, and another on November 11, but the majority of days were sunny with warm days and nights that were not too cool. As a result, I actually had my busiest month of walking in September, despite the trip to Australia. All three months were active, and by the time I finished my last hike, on November 10, I had hiked more than 700 km, including many of the most challenging terrain.

September's highlights included Cape Smokey, Cape Breton, Capelin Cove, the new Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail and the the Coxheath Wilderness Trail near Sydney. On the mainland, I visited Brier Island for the first time, and other trails in the South Shore and Annapolis Valley, but also trekked through Guysborough County, including a re-visit to a favourite, the old Queensport Road. In total, I covered approximately 315 km of trail.

Despite its two impressive downpours, October was almost as good, and I hiked another 250 km then. The weather could not have been better when I visited Fishing Cove, Skyline, Polletts Cove, and Roberts Mountain. Even more surprising, but very welcome, was the sunshine and comfortable temperatures when I hiked the Cape Chignecto loop on October 26-27. True, the high winds roaring up the Bay of Fundy were daunting (see - or maybe, listen to, my video: Cape Chignecto 3), but it was a tremendous experience.

In early November I tied up loose ends. What this meant was that I still had trails far from Halifax, including Lowland Cove, Money Point, and Wilkie's Sugarloaf, all north of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Again, the weather cooperated with sunshine, although by now there was a little snow on the ground and the nights were cold in my modest tent. I completed my final routes with a trip on Nov. 8-10 in Kejimkujik National Park, where I explored the Liberty Lake Loop and the West River Trail. Sadly, despite the magnificent weather and a full moon, I apparently had the entire backcountry of Kej, more than 300 sq. km., all to myself.

So, I have completed all my hikes. There will be 100 of them featured in the newly revised Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 9th edition. The plan is for Volume 1, Cape Breton Island, to be completed for May/June 2012, and for Volume 2, Mainland Nova Scotia, for August/September. When they arrive, you can be confident that I have travelled every trail found in the book, and in the year before that book was published. With luck, not too much will have changed, and you will be able to use the new books with confidence for at least the next five years.

I look forward to hearing your comments!

Posting Videos on You Tube

While I am hiking I take many pictures, sometimes more than 100 on a particularly scenic trail. And on most trails I also take a short video, usually of between 30 sec. to one minute. I have been fortunate to visit some exceptionally beautiful locations, and for many of the trails I worry it might be the final time I will be able to hike them.

I have decided to post some of my videos - or who knows, maybe eventually all of them - on You Tube. Each video will be titled, "Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia", which will be followed by the trail's name. I am posting these under the name "hikerhaynes".

Not every trail is exciting or especially scenic, so neither are their videos. You might wonder why I have posted some those less dramatic films, but what you see will in every case be a fair representation of what you will encounter along the trail. And sometimes that is just a quiet walk through the forest.  But that is ok too. Hope you enjoy whatever you view, and whatever you chose to hike.

Progress Report - August 2011

August finally saw some sustained sunny weather arrive in Nova Scotia, particularly in the second half of the month. Unfortunately for me, I had a major commitment in Australia - a keynote speaker at their National Trails conference - that required me to spend those final two weeks, and the first week of September, involved in activities other than hiking.

Consequently, my progress in August did not meet my earlier planned goal of 20 routes. In fact, it fell far short of that total, with only 15 hikes being completed, and not all of them being suitable for inclusion in the books. Indeed, after having completed a respectable 306 km of hiking in July, I managed to squeeze in less than 200 km on the trails in August.

The month started reasonably well, with Liscomb River, Port Bickerton, Sampson/Albion Trail, Steeltown Park, and Victoria Park hiked on August 1 and 2. Unfortunately, the Port Bickerton trail has been so poorly maintained that it cannot be used, and I actually had intended to use another hike in Guysborough County, but had been unable to find the start location. And poor weather drove me inside on August 3.

My next excursion was to Cape Breton, along its scenic Atlantic coastline. This was a marvellous selection: Point Michaud Beach, Framboise Beach, and the Gabarus Wilderness Proetection area. These are among some of my favourite coastal routes. But again there were challenges. The route from Marie Joseph Gut to Capelin Cove was blocked both because the crown road has washed away and because a new house has been built directly in front of the most likely approach. And I am afraid that the challenging 40 km from Gabrarus to Belfry Gut, while achingly beautiful, was so rugged that my feel were blistered so badly that I had to abandon any further hikes and return to Halifax to recover - which took most of a week.

The following hikes, on August 13-14, were along the Parrsboro shore at Kenomee Canyon and Wards Falls - no ladder anymore, how disappointing! This was followed by Gaff Point, in Lunenburg County, on August 17, and the month's hiking ended on August 27, just before I left for Australia, when I hiked the 9 Mile River Trail in Hants County.

So my total at the end of August was 77 trails and 925 km hiked (one, 9 Mile River, done twice because of technical problems that required a return). Of those I have hiked, at least 10 probably cannot be used in the book. As a result, with only two months remaining, I probably have 33 useable trails still to hike, and the nights are getting cold in my little tent!

However, I have always thought that Nova Scotia's fall season is its best hiking time of year, even if there might be frost on your tent in the morning. So, with a fairly clean schedule for September, I look forward to making up for a poor August with a busy September.

See you on the trails!

Progress Report - July 2011

In Nova Scotia, 2011 will not be remembered for its wonderful summer. There has been rain of some description more than half the days since the beginning of May, and perhaps more frustrating, it has been very unpredictable. The weather this summer has been so changeable that forecasts change every day - sometimes hour by hour.

For example, on one expedition I left Halifax after viewing a forecast that predicted five consecutive days of sunshine - or at worst, mixed sun and cloud. Before I reached the Canso Causeway the weather forecasters were hedging their predictions, even for that day. In the end, there was one day of sun, and three days of rain and fog. at the end of the fourth day, with the latest forecast for more thunderstorms that night, I gave up and returned to Halifax. Instead of the 12 routes I had confidently planned to hike, I had completed only 8, and shorter ones at that.

This has made it difficult to plan longer trips, and I must confess to getting very tired after hiking 20-30 km a day then spending two or three nights in a tent in the rain. Nevertheless, I have been out frequently in July, often in cloudy or rainy weather. Not that I object, particularly, to cloudy weather, but I must admit that photographs generally look better when taken in the sunshine.

As I already mentioned, I was able to get out to Cape Breton for a more extended trip. I managed to complete the following routes:

1. Acadian - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
2. Branch Pond - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
3. Broad Cove
4. Cape Auguet Eco-Trail
5. Cape Mabou
6. Centennial Trail, Port Hawkesbury
7. Coastal - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
8. Egypt Falls
9. Franey - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
10. Judique Flyer
11. Mabou Rivers
12. Middle Head - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
13. Usige Ban Falls
14. Warren Lake - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
15. White Point

In addition, I was also able to hike a few on the mainland:

1. Blomidon Provincial Park
2. Channel Lake - Kejimkujik National Park
3. Crowbar Lake
4. Gold Mines - Kejimkujik National Park
5. Hemlock Hardwoods - Kejimkujik National Park
6. Mersey River - Kejimkujik National Park
7. Peter Point - Kejimkujik National Park
8. New Germany Rail Trail
9. Six Mile Brook

This brings my total, to the end of July, at 57. However, 43 still remain to be done, and it is also uncertain whether I can use all the routes I hiked. Some, such as the Cape Auguet Eco-Trail, were in deadful shape, and can only be trekked by the very experienced - and even then it will be difficult.

However, I still have three months to complete the trails. Stay tuned for future updates, and wish me luck - wish us all luck - with the weather.